Rigging a storm jib - PBO November artice

[cpedw]

The article about how to rig a storm jib when you've got a rolling genoa states:

"If you have ... a boat with a permanent inner forestay (as opposed to a babystay) ... solution is relatively simple"

My boat (Westerly Falcon) has a stay that's approx parallel to the forestay that runs up from the foredeck to the mast level with the spreaders. Is that a babystay or an inner forestay? I've called it a babystay up to now but I don't know why. Would it be suitable for hanging a storm jib onto?
Thanks,
Derek

 

[Talbot]

I have always worried about that solution as there is nothing to prevent the bending of the mast from the tension on the babystay + storm sail probably fine if you have an overspecced mast, or if you can rig running backstays, or if you have the preventer rig on the mast.

 

[Krusty]

I've not seen the November article but I have an 'inner forestay' exactly as you describe. It was a steep 'baby stay' until I moved its lower fittings (including its under-deck continuation to the keel) further forward to make it parallel to the forestay. Its forward load is balanced by the original aft-lower-stays which meet the mast just below the spreaders: essential if you put a sail on it!
We use it for a permanent staysail. Matched to a full-height high-clew jib the combination is just as efficient as a genoa on all points except a poled-out run and a lot more versatile for a cruising boat. In heavy weather it combines with a No2 jib to give us a real powerhouse, far better than a part-rolled genoa, and in a real hoolie, with 3-reefed main or trysail, we change to a storm-jib on the forestay, and still have a powerful windward rig: then for close-quarters manoevres we just drop the storm-jib to give us far more positive control than with main alone.
However, I would not consider it an adequate substitute for a proper storm-jib when running off the wind: then the sail area needs to be on the forestay for maximum control in heavy seas.
I hope this helps.

 

[William_H]

It is most common for mast head rigs to have a baby stay or inner forestay which runs from the spreaders ie half way up the mast to a point on the deck ahead of the mast. Piota has chosen to move the deck attachment of the baby stay forward which makes it more suitable for attaching a storm jib. That stay is good because it is supported in the aft direction by the inner side stays which are attached aft of abeam the mast.

This distance fore and aft of the mast is a compromise. if the inner forestay is too far forward it will give more restriction when tacking the jib however further forward gives better support to the middle of the mast. Likewise the inner sidestays when mounted aft of abeam the mast provide better support to the middle of the mast but get in the way of the mainsail when running. The two distances should be comparable as the 2 inner sidestays must together have equal pull aft on the mast to match the forward pull of the inner forestay.

So most mast head rig boats have a fairly small distance of forward mount of the inner forestay and aft mount of the sidestays. (for reasons given above.)

However when you want an inner forestay to hank a storm jib onto you firstly need a very strong pull aft on the point where it meets the mast to counter the pull of the jib. Further the existing inner forestay may be too low and short and too close to the mast for a usefull sized storm sail.

So regardless of the correct name for the type of inner forestay you have the type to the middle of the mast in a one spreader rig is probably not suitable for use with a storm sail.

A more usefull inner forestay will run from about 2/3 of the way up the mast and attach on the deck well forward. ie 2/3 of the way from mast to bow. (Assuming no bow sprit)

This kind of inner forestay will be a pain if you tack the jib a lot so is usually made removable. ie bottom disconnected and tied to the base of the mast or a sidestay.
With this kind of inner forestay the mast will need to be supported against the pull forward and sideways at that point 2/3 of the way up the mast. Sometimes there are side stays at this point ie in a 2 spreader rig but more commonly there will be no support.
The answer is to fit running backstays from this point on the mast down to the gunwhale a good distance aft of the mast. Remeber the mast must be supported sideways so a distance aft of the mast about equal to half the beam of the boat might seem correct.

I suggest this because if the running backstays go back to the transom (as in some racing yachts)while you will get plenty of power pulling the mast attach point aft you may end up neglecting the need to support that point in the sideways direction.

I would suggest a powerfull tackle or a high field lever to enable these running back stays/ tempory sidestays to be removed to the mast base for normal sailing.
good luck olewill

 

[Krusty]

Re my previous post on using a 'bay-stay-moved-forward' to allow a small staysail: